Purpose:
The Federal Talent Search Program is a TRIO program funded by the Department of Education. It is designed to assist low-income and/or first-generation students prepare for their future educational goals. The program is located in the Ashland, Eau Claire, Wausau, and Milwaukee WEOP offices and serves 6-12th grade students at target schools.
Objectives:
- 97 percent of the non-senior students will complete the current school year and continue to the next grade level.
- 95 percent of the seniors will graduate from high school with a regular diploma.
- 55 percent of the seniors will complete a rigorous secondary school program which includes 4 years of English, 3 years of science including Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, 3 years of Math including Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry and at least one year of a Foreign Language.
- 75 percent of the high school graduates will enroll in postsecondary education the next semester after high school or have received notice of deferred enrollment to the spring semester.
- 50 percent of the participants served during the project year who enrolled in an institution of higher education by the fall term immediately following high school graduation or by the next academic term as a result of deferred enrollment will complete a program of post secondary education within six years.
- The number of high school seniors who complete a FAFSA must be documented.
Eligibility:
- 560 low-income, first-generation middle and high school students must be enrolled.
- Students between the grades of 6-10 must be enrolled.
- Students from target school districts must be enrolled.
- Adults up to age 27 years of age who are not currently enrolled in college can also be served.
- 2/3 of the students must be low income and first generation.
- Low income is defined as living at or below 150 percent of poverty.
- First generation is defined as neither parent graduated from a four year college.
- Students must be between the ages of 11-27.
- Students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
- Below is a list of the target schools:
| SCHOOL DISTRICT | TARGET SCHOOLS |
|---|---|
| Ashland School District |
Ashland Middle and High Schools |
| Bayfield School District |
Bayfield Middle and High Schools |
| DC Everest School District |
DC Everest Senior, Junior and Middle Schools |
| Eau Claire School District |
North and Memorial High Schools Delong and Northstar Middle Schools |
| Wausau School District |
Wausau East and West High Schools John Muir and Horace Mann Middle Schools |
| Milwaukee School District |
Greenfield Bilingual Middle School North Division High School |
Type of Services:
- One-on-one academic, career or personal advising.
- Instruction on topics that include study skills, importance of rigorous classes, picking the right courses to be successful in high school, college vocabulary, time management, financial literacy, types of degrees and colleges, scholarship searches, and/or writing a college essay.
- Transition strategies from 8th grade to high school as well as from 12th grade to college.
- College visits.
- Cultural events.
- ACT preparation.
- College admission and financial aid application assistance.
- Fee waivers for college admission applications and ACT registration.
- Monitoring grades, attendance, and homework completion.
Funding:
The grant is funded for $247,000 and is renewable for up to five years. The funding cycle is from September 1, 2016 to August 31, 2021. Each office is provided an allocation for direct student services.
DPI-WEOP Student Application:
- PI-1576 WEOP Student Application Form
- PI-1576 WEOP Student Application Form (Hmong)
- PI-1576 WEOP Student Application Form (Spanish)
To upload your application to our secure server, submit a request to your local WEOP Office:
WEOP has five statewide offices: Ashland, Eau Claire, Green Bay, Milwaukee, and Wausau.